Derek Cornelius had scored free kicks before, but this was different.<\/p>\n
Despite Canada<\/a>‘s past struggles with set pieces, the former Vancouver Whitecaps<\/a> center back stepped up and blasted a free kick from long range to secure a 1-0 win<\/a> over Wales on Tuesday in Swansea.<\/p>\n \u201cI was working on it in training this week,\u201d Cornelius said after scoring his first goal for the country. \u201cI felt confident and was in a good space, and I got good contact and it went in.\u201d<\/p>\n \n Unheralded territory<\/p>\n The goal saw Canada wrap up the September international window with two wins and two clean sheets, after previously beating Romania, 3-0<\/a>, in Bucharest. It also marked the first time Canada had beaten three UEFA opponents in a row, having defeated Ukraine 4-2, in a home friendly in June.<\/p>\n \u201cThese 10 days and how we’ve used them and maximized them, it was probably the best 10 days we’ve had together,\u201d head coach Jesse Marsch told reporters. \u201cI love the team, and I really love working with them. They’re so committed to everything we’re doing, and one of the things that becomes more palpable is the confidence and belief they have in each other.<\/p>\n \u201cI think we feel like we’re trending in a really good direction, and we’re preparing more and more for what we hope to be a big World Cup for us next summer.\u201d<\/p>\n \n Aggressiveness and swagger<\/p>\n Cornelius\u2019 strike will define the game, but Canada\u2019s poise and skillfulness in the match also stood out, a difficult factor to showcase in the physical Concacaf tests the team is so familiar with.<\/p>\n From Luc De Fougerolles nearly scoring off a backheel flick from a corner to Jonathan David\u2019s no-look passes, Canada played effortlessly.<\/p>\n At the same time, the former CF Montr\u00e9al<\/a> duo of Isma\u00ebl Kon\u00e9 and Nathan Saliba were aggressive in midfield, pushing forward before helping to close out the slim lead.<\/p>\n \u201cI thought Saliba was very good,\u201d Marsch said. \u201cHe was very disciplined and very solid on the ball, he was combative, and won a lot of duels, up and down the pitch, covering every inch of grass.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve been challenging the group to understand moments, to have a little bit more savviness, to have more communication and leadership, and continue to grow in our overall experience of how to manage games… I think it was massive progress.\u201d<\/p>\n \n Competition across the squad<\/p>\n Staying true to his words after last week’s win over Romania, Marsch did not rotate heavily on Tuesday. Minnesota United<\/a> goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair<\/a> started as planned, and Saliba came in for the injured Stephen Eust\u00e1quio.<\/p>\n It\u2019s all part of a methodical build through the next nine months, as Marsch continues to encourage competition through performance, even with key absences of Alphonso Davies, Alistair Johnston and Mo\u00efse Bombito.<\/p>\n \u201cWe tried to have some stability in the starting lineup, and we were able to achieve that. I think we got good performances from the start, and I’ve been really challenging the guys off the bench to be ready to deliver,\u201d Marsch said, adding he sees all three fall windows as a single window.<\/p>\n \u201cThe responsibility that each player understands that he has to carry for himself and for the team is at an extremely high level, and it’s helped us increase and better our performances.\u201d<\/p>\n While the battle between St. Clair and Portland Timbers<\/a>‘ Maxime Cr\u00e9peau<\/a> hasn\u2019t gotten easier with both posting clean sheets, questions are also pressing at center back and midfield.<\/p>\n \u201cI would say across the board, we now have almost a two-person competition at nearly every position on the team, and that\u2019s a great problem to have,\u201d added Marsch. \u201cAs we get closer to the World Cup, defining what our first group is, what the whole squad looks like, will be a big challenge for me.\u201d<\/p>\n \n Home tests loom<\/p>\n Despite Canada\u2019s success, there have been few opportunities to play in front of home crowds. In Marsch\u2019s 23 games in charge, only four have been at home.<\/p>\n